The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-09
A REMARKABLY QUIET DAY.
BY KATE W. HAMILTON.

AA-StA-AOA-C-S go O0NaOAAhSO ANOJ
Jane, as, turning from the bed where she
had just deposited the last pillow, she
CHANGED to glance from an upper window.
"What won't they do next?"
"They" referred to the two boys, and
what they we're doing just then was perch
ing ON the roof of the barn in state of
exalted satisfaction. The ladder by which
they had assembled was in full view, and
toilsomely struggling up it's rounds we're
pair of plump little legs surmounted by
sunbonnet. Prudy Jane gasped as she
discovered this figure.
"And if there amt Sis!" She always
does go bobbing after the rest, like tail
to kite; but L won't trust her up there,
no way"
She felt an unusual weight of respon-
sibility this day, for the children we're
left in her charge while father and moth
or Nelson took one of their rare outings
They had hesitated not little over the
trip, even though it offered prospect of
combining business with pleasure by al
lowing them to visit Aunt Lucy and sell
the colt at the same time.
But it's setting considerable of stent
for Prudy jane" said Mrs. Nelson, " to
expect her to do every thing and take care
OF the children
why, she won't have to do every
thing7 interrupted Fred and Jimmy in a
breath. "We'll be here, and we can do
lots Of things"
THAT is fact" said the farmer, shak
ing his head doubtfully over the whole
project. That will be one trouble,
I'm afraid; you'll do too many things.
You all promise to be good, and I've no
doubt that you mean it; but may safely
venture to say that I'll give a dollar to
any one OF you that won't, some time or
other in the day, run off to the brook or
to the woods without asking Prudy Jane;
or be out of hearing when she wants you;
or leave the bars down or the garden gate
open 80 she will have to run and shut
them; or forget when you're sent of er-
rands."
But Prudy Jane expressed her willing
nees to accept the situation with all its
drawbacks, and her faithfulness was be-
you'd question. So, in the grey dawn, ia
Their and mother Nelson were whirled
away to meet the train; and the other
their own devices.
"And this is the beginning" said Prudy
Jane, as she ran downstairs, caught her
sunbonnet from its nail, and hurried
across the yard. "What on earth are
you doing up there?" she demanded at
the foot of the ladder.
playing Swiss Family Robinson"
"Where they built a house in big
tree"
SO the wild beasts couldn't get at
EN- answered the three voices, supple
menting each other.
"Well I'll resk Sis among all the wild
beasts she'll find sooner'n on that roof"
declared Prudy Jane. "Come Sissy,
come down."
Sis was in no wise inclined to do any
thing of the sort, and Prudy Jane began
to mount after her, moving slowly and
eeaxing as she went. She had raised her
offers to twisted doughnut, when JIM
my suddenly shouted:
"Oh, the calf Prudy Jane, the black
calf He's coming"
Notwithstanding her recently expressed
contempt for wild beasts, Prudy Jane was
afraid of that calf, whose butting propen-
sites were only too we'll known in the
family The speed with which she reached
the top Of the ladder was only equalled
by that of the animal in reaching the
bottom OF it, when he discovered her
upon it, and the full force of his head was
expended upon the lower rounds as her
feet left the upper one and scrambled
upon the roof.
"Ti-con -der-o-ga p muttered Prudy
Jane, falling back upon her favorite ex-
pletive, which, as she explained, chad the
comfort of sounding like something stu
penious while it didn't mean no harm"
There seemed some excuse for il at this
particular juncture, for, either from her
spring, the calf IS persistent butting, or
the two combined, the ladder tilted, slid
along the edge of the roof, and fell with
a crash to the ground below.
"Wish it had hit your pesky head" re-
marked Prudy Jaue, as the calf, aston
ished at this result of his labors, kicked
up his heels aud scampered out of sight
around the barn. The boys lay back on
the shingles and laughed 1t was Sis
who propounded the momentons ques-
ton.
"How it'll we going to get DOWN."
The merriment of the boys suddenly
ceased they sat up and looked at Prudy
Jane.
"Climb down-some way?" ventured
Jimmy, interrogatiyely, after minutes
silence.
(which wsy2" asked Prudy Jane, SEN
tentiously.
Jimmy had no answer. No tree was